On February 18, 1999, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the North Little Rock School District under 42 U.S.C. § 2000e, et seq. ("Title VII") in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. The Department of Justice asked the court for injunctive and monetary ...
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On February 18, 1999, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the North Little Rock School District under 42 U.S.C. § 2000e, et seq. ("Title VII") in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. The Department of Justice asked the court for injunctive and monetary relief, alleging that the defendant had violated Title VII, by discriminating and retaliating against a former employee, on the basis of gender.

The plaintiff alleges that the employee was subjected to a sexually hostile work environment and was retaliated against after her complaint was issued. The employee's workload was increased and supervised more closely, and she was eventually transferred to a less desirable position. The employee issued an intervenor complaint on May 5, 1999, so as to seek monetary reparations for this disparate and retaliatory treatment.

On February 2, 2001, the District Court (Judge Stephen M. Reasoner) entered a Consent Decree, agreed upon by both parties. The defendant School District was to issue and distribute a Sexual Harassment Policy with a Sexual Harrassment Complaint Procedure and Sexual Harassment Training program. An EEO Officer would also have to be appointed at the school to report to the Superintendent and Board of Education any incidents of sexual harassment or retaliation. The intervenor plaintiff was written a letter of apology and additionally awarded a monetary payment of $70,000.